Bhuvneshwar Kumar Shuts Down Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Haters: “He’s Not Slogging”

Bhuvneshwar Kumar explained that despite following their plans, RCB could not contain Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during their match against RR.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar Shuts Down Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Haters: “He’s Not Slogging”

Bhuvneshwar Kumar acknowledged that young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi does not merely 'slog' the ball. (via Indian Express)

In Short
  • Bhuvneshwar Kumar praised Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's batting skills, stating he does not just 'slog' the ball.
  • Sooryavanshi scored 76 runs off 28 balls, leading Rajasthan Royals to a six-wicket victory over RCB.
  • There are calls for Sooryavanshi to be considered for the Indian T20I team, as he meets the age requirement for international cricket.

Veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar spoke highly of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi following his aggressive innings that helped RR defeat RCB. Even though Kumar was on the receiving end of the teenager’s power-hitting, he insisted that the left-hander does not merely ‘slog’ the ball.

It was another high-scoring affair at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati, after RCB put up a first innings total of 201/8 on the board. Rajat Patidar scored 63 runs off 40 balls, while Virat Kohli (32 off 16), Venkatesh Iyer (29 off 15) and Romario Shepherd (22 off 11) provided crucial contributions. For the Royals, Ravi Bishnoi was the pick among the bowlers, as he returned with figures of 2/32 in his four-over spell.

RR, however, thrashed the visitors by six wickets after successfully chasing down the 202-run target in just 18 overs. Once again, the prodigious Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was the star of the show, as he scored 76 runs off just 28 balls at a strike rate of 300. The 15-year-old smashed eight boundaries and seven sixes, while matching his season-opener record of reaching a fifty in a mere 15 balls against CSK.

The Rajasthan Royals opener took the attack on RCB’s elite pace-bowling duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. Specifically, Sooryavanshi hit Kumar for 24 runs, including three fours and two sixes. Despite the onslaught and RCB’s eventual defeat, the 36-year-old was full of praise for the left-hander and admitted that he had no hard feelings about being hit for runs by an up-and-coming teenage sensation. Kumar said, after the match:

It’s a T20 game, I mean. Yes, he [Vaibhav Sooryavanshi] is young, and he is batting very well, but we never felt that somebody was thrashing us. Yes, we had plans, we dropped a catch too, but that happens in cricket.

Kumar also remarked how Sooryavanshi, regardless of his age, has matured as a batter, and noted that it is all a part of the T20 game that has evolved significantly over the years. The out-of-favor fast bowler dispelled claims that the 15-year-old does not hit proper shots, but is a ‘blind ‘slogger. Kumar instead exclaimed that the U-19 World Cup star does way more and should be credited for carrying RR’s batting.

The way he is hitting shots. He is not slogging, he is hitting proper shots. For a 15-year-old, he is too mature. So yes, I think we should give him credit for the way he is batting, and he is batting really well.

Sooryavanshi was helped in his effort against RCB by Dhruv Jurel, who remained unbeaten till the end. Jurel, in fact, was the team’s top-scorer, finishing with 81 runs off just 43 balls with the help of eight fours and three sixes, as he saw RR over the line with 12 balls to spare. 

Is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ready for the Indian senior team call-up?

One of the most talked-about stars in Indian cricket, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, has enjoyed a blistering start to his 2026 IPL campaign. The left-hander, playing for Rajasthan Royals, has already scored 200 runs in the tournament, at an average of 50 and a strike-rate well over 260. 

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi India
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi might soon be called up to represent India in T20Is. (via NDTV Sports)

Most recently, Sooryavanshi showed off his fearless hitting abilities during RR’s six-wicket win over RCB, scoring a remarkable 78 runs off 26 balls. He took apart established bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, getting a handful of boundaries against them. Against MI, the 15-year-old had also taken on Jasprit Bumrah, shocking fans by hitting a six off the very first delivery that he faced off him.

It has now prompted many to urge the selectors to look towards the young left-hander for future India T20Is. Given that Sooryavanshi turned 15 in March 2026, he meets the ICC regulation requiring a player to be 15 years old to feature in international cricket. Should he be picked, he would become the country’s youngest international debutant, eclipsing Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 16 years and 205 days.

However, skeptics, including former India captain Anil Kumble, have warned against placing early pressure on Sooryavanshi. Nonetheless, the Men in Blue will play Ireland in a T20I series later this year, and the teenager might be handed a noteworthy opportunity. 

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